How often do you service your car?
Some prefer to do it once per year, content that their model is up-to-date enough to only need basic maintenance to keep going strong. Others prefer to do it twice, even thrice, per year. Wherever you land on the scale, reaching out to a professional when a problem is minor is a clever idea. That’s because your vehicle is expensive enough to look after without waiting for small issues to become major hassles. Whether it’s air-conditioning that takes forever to turn on or brake pads that make strange noises whenever you slow to a stop, it’s all in a day’s work for the responsible car owner.
Read below for five simple tips on keeping your car running smoothly throughout 2018.
Change Your Oil
First things first…make sure you’re never wanting for an oil change. It’s recommended by most professionals you change your oil every 5,000 miles, or four months, to stay in the clear. For those that have a new car model that hasn’t yet been broken in? Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations even if you feel otherwise. It may just mean the difference between a low bill and a frustration that follows you for months.
Check Your Brakes
When it comes to safety, you can never be too careful. Your brakes are one of your most reliable ways of preventing a crash and should be in working condition whether you’re taking a long trip down the highway or just swinging by the grocery store. Brake pads last anywhere from 30,000 to 35,000 miles, depending, and any issues you note should be checked immediately. This includes a brake that’s slow to respond and strange noises upon stopping.
Rotate Your Tires
Tired of swapping out your tires all the time? You may be overdo a tire rotation. Tires that are constantly getting worn down and unreliable are often the result of too much stress on one end or another, leaving you out of pocket and putting other drivers in danger. A recent survey found nearly 80% of cars were in need of maintenance or repairs. That includes used models and new models. Before you look into clutch repair or a new paint job, consider this as the reason your tires aren’t lasting as long as they should.
Improve Your Air-Conditioning
The weather is only getting warmer from here. Can your air-conditioning hold up? There’s nothing quite like opening your door and being hit with a wall of sweltering heat, even worse when you have to sit in a car that feels like a microwave. Your air-conditioning should work quickly and provide enough air to cool the entire vehicle in just a few minutes. If it takes too long to work, or you smell something funny every time you turn it on, you may just need air conditioning replacement alignments.
Prevent Battery Failure
Last, but not least, you want to make sure your battery doesn’t fail. Mechanical failures have been found to factor in nearly 15% of all auto accidents, with battery failure high on the list. The last thing you want while speeding down the highway is to have your car suddenly turn off and send you into a street lamp. One survey found 50% of premature car battery failures being caused by a loss of water during a lack of maintenance, evaporation from high underhood heat or constant overcharging. While spending money for a car battery replacement doesn’t sound appealing, getting into a crash is even less so.
Don’t take the chance. Service your car this month and make sure you’re set to go for the rest of 2018.
